I've just been reading today that eating dates, especially during the last 4 weeks of pregnancy, may help a woman go into labor spontaneously, keep membranes intact longer, quicker cervical dilation, and less postpartum bleeding. Does anyone eat dates for the last few weeks of pregnancy, and do you think it helped with your labor? Can I start eating them any time, or just the last 4 weeks or so?

I'm 36 weeks pregnant with my 3rd child and have just started consuming 6 dates per day, as I'll try pretty much anything to prepare for labour and prevent tearing. I'll let you know if it made any difference in a month or so :)

I did it!
I ate six dates a day for probably six or seven weeks of my pregnancy (my baby was overdue, born past 42 weeks).
Honestly, I have no idea if it helped. I didn't have much postpartum bleeding, but I had to be induced and took forever to dilate.
Also, by the end there I was pretty sick of dates. Whenever I see the leftover dates in my fridge I sort of gag a little bit...